Pierre-Joseph Céloron de Blainville

(1693-1759) French army officer and explorer, born in Montreal, Canada. A captain in the French colonial regulars, he commanded various forts throughout the Great Lakes region. His Ohio expedition and report of 1749 paved the way for the French occupation of the upper Ohio in 1753, which precipitated the French and Indian War (1754-63).

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.